Operating arrangement for circular linking machine



Nov. 23, 1965 w. DARANDIK 3,219,003

OPERATING ARRANGEMENT FOR CIRCULAR LINKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1958 5Sheets-Sheet 1 F/GJ. F/6.2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 23, 1965 w. DARANDIK 3,219,003

OPERATING ARRANGEMENT FOR CIRCULAR LINKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1958 5Sheets-Sheet 2 13+ l7 I34- IS I- I40. l4 I I3 I I.

22 20a 22 I ll '6 o I 30I I 300 23 INVENTOR WILH M bAeAu lk NFL S74 M496ATTORNEY Nov. 23, 1965 w. DARANDIK 3,219,003

OPERATING ARRANGEMENT FOR CIRCULAR LINKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1958 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WlLHEL/v] Dee/M 0:

Max/ 5 s W pv f ATTORNEY Nov. 23, 1965 w. DARANDIK OPERATING ARRANGEMENTFOR CIRCULAR LINKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 28, 1958INVENTOR W/L 461.4 Danna/0mg Ml nmL f VAL/K64 ATTORNEY Nov. 23, 1965 w.DARANDIK 3,219,003

OPERATING ARRANGEMENT FOR CIRCULAR LINKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1958 5Sheets-Sheet 5 wwae F/G- 7 INVENTOR United States Patent 8 Claims. (31.112-45 The present application is a continuation-in-part application ofmy co-pending application Serial No. 509,594 filed May 19, 1955 andissued as US. Patent 2,862,464 on December 2, 1958.

The present invention relates to an operating arrangement for circularlinking machines, and more particularly to an operating arrangementpermitting the operator of a linking machine to hold a selected part ofa rotating member in a desired position, although the rotating member isdriven by a motor.

In linking machines of the type to which the present invention relates,two pieces of knitted material are placed with their loops on a circleof needles, and thereupon linked or sewn to each other. The circle ofneedles is rotated, and the operator attaches the knitted pieces to theportion of the circle of needles which passes her. If the operator worksfaster, or slower, than required by the speed of the needles, theportion of the circle of needles Where the operator works is notdirectly in front of her so that the operation cannot be carried outefiiciently.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage,and to provide an operating arrangement permitting an operator to hold adesired section of a driven operating means in a desired position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide operating meansfor a linking machine permitting the operator to place knitted pieces ona rotating circle of needles at a speed greater or smaller than thespeed of the moving needles.

A further object of the present invention is to drive an operatingmember by a motor in such a manner that the support of the operatingmember can be turned with the operating member to produce a resultantspeed of the operating member which corresponds to the speed at whichthe operator performs necessary operations of the operating member.

With these objects in view, the present invention mainly consists in amachine which comprises, in combination, stationary supporting means, asupport turnably mounted on the supporting means for turning movementabout a vertical axis; operating means movably mounted on the support;and rotary drive means having an axis coinciding with the turning axisof the support and being turnably mounted in the same for driving theoperating means.

Consequently, an operator can turn the support during operation of thedriven operating means. A transmission means is mounted in the turnablesupport for connecting the drive means with the operating means, and thetransmission means include means which are turnable with the supportwhile the transmission is in driving connection with the drive means.

The motor which drives the operating means, such as a rotaryneedle-supporting dial ring, is either mounted on the turnable support,or on the stationary supporting means.

While the needle-supporting ring is rotated on the turnable support, theoperator can turn the support while placing knitted pieces on theneedles so that the needles on which the knitted piece is placed, arealways in front of the operator.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the turnablesupport is mounted on top of a stationary supporting column. Thisarrangement permits the operator to work at any point of the turnablesupport and needle supporting ring. In accordance with a preferredembodiment of the linking machine, a transverse arm has operating needlemeans which are stationary relative to the moving needle-supporting ringsince the arm is secured to the turnable support. The operator works theoperating needle means and holds the portion of the needle-supportingring where she works in front of her by turning the turnable supportopposite to the direction of rotation of the needle-supporting means ifshe works slower than required by the speed of the needle-supportingring. If the operator works faster, she can turn the turnable support indirection of rotation of the needlesupporting ring. v

A slip clutch is preferably provided in the transmission meansconnecting the motor with the drive shaft in order to prevent turning ofthe support by the motor when the operating means of the machine arejammed. A pulley and belt transmission may serve as friction coupling.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are schematic side views of another embodimentof the present invention, some parts being omitted for the sake ofsimplicity;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 and FIG. 7a are fragmentary side views, partly in section,illustrating details of the operating means of' the linking machine ofFIG. 5; and FIG. 7b is a sectional view taken on line VIIb-VIIb in FIG.7.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 5 and FIG],the support for the operating means of the machine is mounted forturning movement about a vertical axis on a stationary column 23 whichhas a flange 23a to which a ring 21 is fixedly secured by screws 162.The turnable support includes a hollow conical part 14 which ispivotally connected by a pin 39 to an annular part 20 having a centrallylocated downwardly extending circular portion 20a projecting into therecess defined by ring 21. Anti-friction roller means 22 are locatedbetween elements 21 and 20a. Support 14 has a flange on top to which acircular guide member 1 is fixedly secured by bolts 15. A set of needles3 is arrange-d in a circle and supported on a needle-supporting dialring 2 by clamping rings which are held together by screws 5.

A sewing needle 6 is driven by operating means 16a which are located ina transverse hollow arm 7 of a member 12 which is secured to a radiallyinward projecting part 1a of a guide member 1. Members 20, 14, 1, 12

. and arm 7 of member 12 form a turnable support or thereof a cam 13afor driving the operating means of needle 6.

A main shaft 13 is;

The needle-supporting ring 2 with needles 3 is rotated by a transmissionincluding bevel gears 131, 132, worm gear 137, pinion 139, and aninternal gear 2a on needlesupporting dial ring 2, the transmission beingdriven from main shaft 13 as will be explained hereinafter. The needle 6is oscillated to follow the rotary movement of the needles and then toreturn for the next stitch. Gripper means 8 passing through a cutout ina cover plate 9, as shown in FIG. 7b, grip the loops of the knlttedpieces which are placed on needles 3 and sewn by needle 6.

This arrangement is not an object of the present invention, but it willbe understood that it is advantageous for the operator to be in aposition opposite needle 6. The operator can manually turn support 1,12, 14, 20, a on flange 23a to place needle 6 in any desired position.It is also necessary that the operator places a piece of knittedmaterial on the needles 3, with needles 3 passing through loops of thematerial. The needle-supporting dial ring 2 is driven from shaft 13 toturn about the axis of the machine while sliding on circular guidemember 1, so that needles 3 pass the operator while she places a knittedpiece on needles 3. When the operator cannot follow the speed ofmovement of needles 3, the operator turns support 1, 12, 14, 20 oppositeto the direction of rotation so that the moving needles 3 and needle 6remain in a convenient position. If the operator works faster thanrequired by the speed of the needle-supporting dial ring 2 and needles3, then the operator can turn the turnable support in direction ofrotation of needles 3.

A bevel gear 131 is secured to main shaft 13, and drives another bevelgear 132 which is secured to a shaft 135 mounted in a bearing bracket161 on member 1 as shown in FIGS. 7a and 712. When the support 1, 12,14, 20 is manually turned on flange 23a about its vertical axis whichcoincides with the axis of shaft 13, gear 132 rolls on gear 131 whilethe gears remain in meshing engagement. Gears 131 and 132 form part of atransmission for driving needle supporting ring 2. The transmissionfurther includes a worm gear 137 secured to a shaft 138 which isturnably mounted in bearing 140 on circular guide member 1. A gearpinion 139 is fixed on shaft 138 and meshes with an internal gear 2a onneedle supporting ring 2. When shafts and 13 are driven, the needlesupporting ring 2 rotates relative to guide member 1 while the needle 6makes stitches in material suspended on needles 3, but the operator canturn support 1, 12, 14, 20 with the revolving needle supporting ring 2and needles 6.

Member 14 is pivotal-1y mounted on member 20 for tilting movement to aninoperative position in which the transmission and other operating meansare easily accessible for cleaning purposes. As shown in FIG. 5, member14 has a pair of brackets 14a located on opposite sides of a bracketprojecting from ring member 20. A pivot pin 29 is secured to bracket 40and projects into bearing bores in brackets 14a. When support 14 istilted, a cutout 14b receives projection 40. A slotted member 51 isconnected by a pin 52 to part 14, and receives in its slot a pin 50which is secured to part 29, as shown in FIG. 7. When the upper parts ofthe machine are turned about pivot pin 39, pin 50 slides in the slot ofmember 51 to the end of the slot and holds the pivoted head in a desiredend position.

Main shaft 13 is driven from a drive shaft 25 through a clutch means 24which includes a pin 24a secured to shaft 13, a pin 24b secured to shaft25, and a sleeve 24c provided with a slot in which pins 24a and 24b arelocated. A spring 24d abuts against a ring on shaft 25 and on sleeve24c, and permits axial shifting of sleeve 24c. Clutch means 24 permitsthe pivotal movement of the machine head since pin 24a moves out of theslot of sleeves 24c when the head 1, 12, 14, 15 is pivoted about pin 39to the inoperative position in which part 14 has been moved up to definean angular space with part 20.

In the illustrated position, coupling means 24 obtains a drivingconnection between shafts 25 and 13 and the head is in its operativeposition. A worm gear drive 133, 134 is provided for turning shaft 13 bya manual operation. Shaft of worm gear 133 is connected to a crank, notshown.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 parts which correspond to parts ofFIG. 7 are indicated by the same numerals. The support 14 has aprojecting portion 14a to which a drive motor 16 is secured. Motor shaft17 projects into the interior of the hollow support 14 and carries apulley 18 which is connected by a belt to a corresponding pulley 19which is secured to shaft 13. The diameters of pulleys 18 and 19 areselected in such a manner to obtain a proper reduction of the rotaryspeed of shaft 13 with respect to the rotary speed of motor shaft 17.The support part 14 is secured to a turnable ring 20' which has adownwardly projecting portion 20a located in a recess formed by theannular portion 210 of column 23. Roller means 22 are located betweenmembers 20a and 210 and facilitate turning movement of support 14' withmember 12'. An annular bottom surface of member 20 slidably engages theannular top face of the ring portion 210. In this embodiment, annularmember 20' is fixedly secured to the hollow part 14 by bolts, not shown.Needle supporting ring 2 is driven from shaft 13 through a transmission131, 132, 135, 139, 2a as described with reference to FIGS. 7a and 7b.

The motor 16 is mounted on turnable support 14 in a diametricallyopposite position with respect to needle 6 and supporting arm 7. In thismanner, the weight of motor 16 counterbalances the weight of arm 7. Acable 300 is connected to contact rings 301, on the stationary column 23and the motor 16 carries slide contacts 302 which engage the contactrings 301. Consequently, electric power can be supplied to motor 16 inany turned position of support 14', 20 which carries motor 16.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 7, motor 30 is mounted on thestationary column 23 so that no slide contacts need be provided. Thehead portion of the machine is constructed as described with referenceto FIGS. 7, 7a, 7b.

Drive shaft 25 is mounted in column 23 and is coupled by coupling means24 to main shaft 13 from which the operating means of the machine,including the needlesupporting ring 4, are driven as explained withreference to FIGS. 7, 7a. A shaft 251 constituting a lower drive shaftportion is mounted in a bearing 26 on column 23 non-movable in axialdirection, and carries a pulley 27 which is connected by a belt 28 to apulley 29 on the shaft of motor 30 which is fixedly secured to column23. A friction clutch means 31 connects shafts 25 and 251 and includes aspring 31a urging the axially shiftable disk 31]) against disk 31c. Amember 360 secured by a screw 362 to shaft 25 holds spring 31a inposition.

When the transmitted torque exceeds a predetermined maximum, frictionclutch means 31 slips. This arrangement prevents a rotation of theturnable support 1, 14, 20 by the motor shaft 13 through gears 131 and132 when the operating means driven from gear 132 are jammed.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 6, the slip clutch means is omitted andreplaced by a pulley and belt drive. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, themotor, not shown, is mounted in the lower portion of supporting column23, and drives shaft 32 through a pulley and belt drive corresponding tothe pulley and belt drive 27, 28, 29 described with reference to FIG. 5.The friction clutch means 31 is omitted in shaft 32.

Shaft 32 carries at its upper end a pulley 33 which drives through abelt a pulley 34 secured to a pulley shaft 36 which is mounted onsupport 14. Another pulley 37 is mounted on shaft 36 and drives througha belt a pulley 38 fixedly secured to shaft 13. Since shafts 13 and 32are coaxial, and have an axis coinciding with the vertical turning axisof the turnable support 12", 14",

20" the pulley and belt transmission is operative in all turnedpositions of support 12", 14", 20". However, the transmitted torque islimited since the belts will slip on the pulleys when the operatingmeans of the machine are jammed. Needle supporting ring 2 is driven asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7a and 7b.

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 illustrate modifications of the drive of shaft 13from motor means. In the above description it was assumed that themachine is provided with a vertical stationary column 23. Acorresponding arrangement is shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG.2, the stationary supporting means include an inolined support 53 havinga transverse arm 54 on whose fr e end an annular member 210corresponding to member 210 of the embodiment of FIG. 4 is provided. Theturnable mechanism housing 20, 14, 1, 12, 7 is mounted thereon in themanner described with reference to FIG- URES 4 to 7. Shaft 13 carries apulley 59 which is connected by a belt 58 to a pulley '57 on the shaftof motor 56. Consequently, motor 56 drives shaft 13, while the pulleyand belt drive has the function of the slip coupling preventing rotationof the machine head by motor 56 when the operating means are jammed.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a downwardly extending portion 55 of thesupporting means has at its lower end a transverse arm 63 whose free endhas a supporting ring 210 corresponding to ring 210, of the embodimentof FIG, 4. The turnable support 14, and the other parts of the mechanismhousing of the linking machine are mounted thereon in the mannerdescribed with reference to FIGURES 4 to 7. Shaft 13 carries a pulley 64which is driven from a pulley 62 through a belt 63. Motor shaft 61 isdriven by motor 60 which is mounted on a stationary support. It is alsocontemplated to modify this arrangement in such a manner that thesuspended supporting means 55 is arranged at the center of the turnablesupport 14 with the axis of shafts 13 and 61 coinciding.

In all above described embodiments of the present invention, a turnablesupport is provided which includes an annular part 20, a conical part14, and a member 12. The operating means for the needle 6 and for theneedle supporting ring 2 are mounted in this turnable part and aredriven from shaft 13 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 7a. Needle supporting ring2 has an inner gear 2a meshing with gear 139 which is driven through atransmission including the bevel gear 132. The turnable support 20, 14,12 is normally held by the operator in a position in which needle 6 isopposite the operator, and at the same time the operator attaches twopieces of knitted fabric to the needles 3 which move past her so thatthe two pieces are sewn together by needle 6. The speed of the operatoris determined by the speed at which the needles 3 move past theoperator. If the operator cannot follow the speed of the needles, andfalls behind in attaching the knitted fabric pieces to needles 3, sheturns support 20, 14, 1, 12 which is possible since annular part 20 isturnably mounted on flange 23a and turns in the stationary ring 21 onrollers 22. In this manner, the operator can place those needles 3 onwhich she has to attach the knitted pieces in front of her, since shecan turn the turnable support with needle ring 2 and needles 3 as fastback as needles 3 move past her. Consequently the same needles 3 willremain opposite the operator, and the attaching operation can beproperly carried out. It is also possible that the operator is capableof attaching some parts of the knitted fabrics faster to the needles 3than required by the movement of needles 3. In this event, she can turnthe support with needle supporting ring 2 and needles 3 in the directionof movement of needle supporting ring 2 and needles 3 to work ahead ofthe sewing operation carried out by needle 6.

Therefore, the driven needle supporting ring 2 moves relative to themovable support 20, 14, 1, 12 when shaft 6 14 drives the needlesupporting ring, but the needle supporting ring 2 can be turned manuallytogether with the movable support 20, 14, 1, 12 into a desired position.

During such manual turning movement, the driving connection betweenshaft 13 and the needle supporting ring 2 must not be interrupted. Inaccordance with the present invention, gear 132 rolls on gear 131 whilethe turnable support is turned, but the driving connection between shaft13 to needle supporting ring 2, as shown in FIG. 7a, remainsuninterrupted. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the manual turning of theturnable support with motor 16 is also possible while the drivingconnection is maintained, since the belt between pulleys 18 and 19 turnsabout pulley 19. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, pulley 37 turns aroundpulley 38, while the driving connection is maintained by the connectingbelts between pulleys 37 and 38, and pulleys 33 and 34.

While the needle supporting ring 2 with needles 3 is rotated from shaft13, shaft 13 also operates the needle 6 through operating means 16awhich are controlled by a cam 13:; on shaft 13. The construction of theoperating means 16a is well known, and not an object of the presentinvention.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types oftextile machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in anoperating arrangement for circular linking machines, it is not intendedto be limited to the details shown, since various modifications andstructural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of these generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A dial looper sewing machine comprising, in com bination, an uprightsupport column having a vertical axis; a mechanism housing; bearingmeans supporting said housing on the top end of said column for rotationrelative to said column about a vertical axis coinciding with saidvertical axis of said column; a drive shaft mounted in said column forrotation about said vertical axis of said column and having an upper endlocated in the region of the top end of said column; a main shaftmounted in said housing for rotation about said vertical axis and havinga lower end located in the region of the lower end of said housing andregistering with said upper end of said drive shaft; clutch means forcoupling said lower end of said main shaft with said upper end of saiddrive shaft for rotation together; a work material supporting dialmounted upon said housing for rotation relative to the same about avertical axis coinciding with said vertical axis of said housing andlocated above said upright support column so as to be accessible fromall sides; stitch forming mechanism mounted upon said housing forforming stitches in work material supported on said dial; and meansconnecting said dial and said stitch forming mechanism to said mainshaft to rotate said dial about said vertical axis relative to saidhousing and to drive said stitch forming means in movement synchronizedwith the relative rotary movement between said dial and said housingwhen said main shaft is driven by said drive shaft through said clutchmeans.

2. A dial looper sewing machine comprising, in combination, an uprighthollow support column having a vertical axis, said column being ofslender frustoconical shape having a wider lower portion; a mechanismhousing; bearing means supporting said housing on the top end of saidcloumn for rotation relative to said column about a vertical axiscoinciding with said vertical axis of said column; a drive shaft mountedin said column for rotation about said vertical axis of said column andhaving an upper end located in the region of the top end of said column;a motor mounted in said lower portion of said column; means connectingsaid motor with the lower end of said drive shaft for driving thelatter; a main shaft mounted in said housing for rotation about saidvertical axis and having a lower end located in the region of the lowerend of said housing and registering with said upper end of said driveshaft; clutch means for coupling said lower end of said main shaft withsaid upper end of said drive shaft for rotation together; a workmaterial supporting dial mounted upon said housing for rotation relativeto the same about a vertical axis coinciding with said vertical axis ofsaid housing and located above said upright support column so as to beaccessible from all sides; stitch forming mechanism mounted upon saidhousing for forming stitches in work material supported on said dial;and means connecting said dial and said stitch forming mechanism to saidmain shaft to rotate said dial about said vertical axis relative to saidhousing and to drive said stitch forming means in movement synchronizedwith the relative rotary movement between said dial and said housingwhen said main shaft is driven by said drive shaft through said clutchmeans.

3. A dial looper sewing machine comprising, in combination, an uprightsupport column having a vertical axis; a mechanism housing; bearingmeans supporting said housing on the top end of said column for rotationrelative to said column about a vertical axis coinciding with saidvertical axis of said column; a drive shaft mounted in said column forrotation about said vertical axis of said column and having an upper endlocated in the region of the top end of said column, said drive shaftincluding an upper portion having said upper end, and a lower portion;friction clutch means connecting said upper and lower portions of saiddrive shaft, said friction clutch means including a pair of discs infrictional engagement, said discs being respectively mounted on saidupper and lower portions of said drive shaft connected to the same forrotation, one of said discs being mounted on the respective portion foraxial movement, and a spring urging said one disc against the otherdisc; and means for adjusting the tension of said spring whereby thetorque transmitted to said main shaft, dial and stitch foming means canbe accurately adjusted; drive means for driving said lower portion ofsaid drive shaft; a main shaft mounted in said housing for rotationabout said vertical axis and having a lower end located in the region ofthe lower end of said housing and registering with said upper end ofsaid drive shaft; clutch means for coupling said lower end of said mainshaft with said upper end of said drive shaft for rotation together; awork material supporting dial mounted upon said housing for rotationrelative to the same about a vertical axis coinciding with said verticalaxis of said housing and located above said upright support column so asto be accessible from all sides; stitch forming mechanism mounted uponsaid housing for forming stitches in work material supported on saiddial; and means connecting said dial and said stitch forming mechanismto said main shaft to rotate said dial about said vertical axis relativeto said housing and to drive said stitch forming means in movementsynchronized with the relative rotary movement between said dial andsaid housing when said main shaft is driven by said drive shaft throughsaid last mentioned clutch means.

4. A dial looper sewing machine comprising, in combination, an uprightsupport column having a vertical axis; a mechanism housing; bearingmeans supporting said housing on the top end of said column for rotationrelative to said column about a vertical axis coinciding with saidvertical axis of said column and including a circular bearing partsecured to the top end of said column and a circular support partturnable on said bearing part about said vertical axis; means supportingsaid mechanism housing on said turnable support part for tiltingmovement about a horizontal axis spaced from said vertical axis andbeing located in the lower portion of said housing so that the same canbe tilted to an inoperative position in which the upper end of saidcolumn and the lower end of said housing are separated and accessible; adrive shaft mounted in said column for rotation about said vertical axisof said column and having an upper end located in the region of the topend of said column; a main shaft mounted in said housing for rotationabout said vertical axis and having a lower end located in the region ofthe lower end of said housing and registering with said upper end ofsaid drive shaft; clutch means for coupling said lower end of said mainshaft with said upper end of said drive shaft for rotation together anddisengageable in axial direction so that said main shaft and drive shaftare separated when said housing with said main shaft is in saidinoperative tilted position; a work material supporting dial mountedupon said housing for rotation relative to the same about a verticalaxis coinciding with said vertical axis of said housing and locatedabove said upright support column so as to be accessible from all sides;stitch forming mechanism mounted upon said housing for forming stitchesin work material supported on said dial; and means connecting said dialand said stitch forming mechanism to said main shaft to rotate said dialabout said vertical axis relative to said housing and to drive saidstitch forming means in movement synchronized with the relative rotarymovement between said dial and said housing when said main shaft isdriven by said drive shaft through said clutch means.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4 including a link pivotally securedto said housing and having a slot, and a pin mounted in said slot forsliding movement and secured to said circular support part of saidcolumn.

6. A dial looper sewing machine comprising, in combination, an uprightsupport column having a vertical axis; a mechanism housing; bearingmeans supporting said housing on the top end of said column for rotationrelative to said column about a vertical axis coinciding with saidvertical axis of said column; a drive shaft mounted in said column forrotation about said vertical axis of said column and having an upper endlocated in the region of the top end of said column; a main shaftmounted in said housing for rotation about said vertical axis and havinga lower end located in the region of said lower end of said housing andregistering with said upper end of said drive shaft; means for couplingsaid lower end of said main shaft with said upper end of said driveshaft for rotation together and including a pair of pulleys respectivelysecured to said main shaft and said drive shaft, and another pair ofpulleys mounted on said housing for rotation together about a verticalaxis, and a pair of belts connecting the pulleys of said pairs,respectively; a work material supporting dial mounted upon said housingfor rotation relative to the same about a vertical axis coinciding withsaid vertical axis of said housing and located above said uprightsupport column so as to be accessible from all sides; stitch formingmechanism mounted upon said housing for forming stitches in workmaterial supported on said dial; and means connecting said dial and saidstitch forming mechanism to said main shaft to rotate said dial aboutsaid vertical axis relative to said housing and to drive said stitchforming means in movement synchronized with the relative rotary movementbetween said dial and said housing when said main shaft is driven bysaid drive shaft through said pulleys and belts.

7. A dial looper sewing machine comprising, in combination, an uprightsupport column having a vertical axis; a mechanism housing; bearingmeans supporting said housing on the top end of said column for rotationrelative to said column about a vertical axis coinciding with saidvertical axis of said column and including a circular bearing partsecured to the top end of said column and a circular support partturnable on said bearing part about said vertical axis; means supportingsaid mechanism housing on said turnable support part for tiltingmovement about a horizontal axis spaced from said vertical axis andbeing located in the lower portion of said housing so that the same canbe tilted to an inoperative position in which the upper end of saidcolumn and the lower end of said housing are separated and accessible; adrive shaft mounted in said column for rotation about said vertical axisof said column and having an upper end located in the region of the topend of said column; a main shaft mounted in said housing for rotationabout said vertical axis and having a lower end located in the region ofsaid lower end of said housing and registering with said upper end ofsaid drive shaft; coupling means having one part including projections,and another part including slots extending in axial direction andreceiving said projections for positively coupling said lower end ofsaid main shaft with said upper end of said drive shaft for rotationtogether while being disengageable in axial direction; a work materialsupporting dial mounted upon said housing for rotation relative to thesame about a vertical axis coinciding with said vertical axis of saidhousing and located above said upright support column so as to beaccessible from all sides; stitch forming mechanism mounted upon saidhousing for forming stitches in work material supported on said dial;and means connecting said dial and said stitch forming mechanism to saidmain shaft to rotate said dial about said vertical axis relative to saidhousing and to drive said stitch forming means in movement synchronizedwith the relative rotary movement between said dial and said housingwhen said main shaft is driven by said drive shaft through said couplingmeans, and

including a bevel gear secured to said main shaft, and

another bevel gear meshing therewith and mounted on said housing fortilting movement therewith out of meshing engagement.

8. A dial looper sewing machine comprising, in combination, an uprightsupport column having a vertical axis; a mechanism housing; bearingmeans supporting said housing on the top end of said column for rotationabout a vertical axis coinciding with said vertical axis of said column;a main shaft mounted in said housing for rotation about said verticalaxis; a motor mounted on said housing and having a vertical motor shaftprojecting into said housing; a pair of pulleys respectively secured tosaid main shaft and motor shaft, and a belt connecting said pulleyswhereby the driving connection bet-ween said motor and said main shaftis maintained during turning movement of said housing on said column; awork material supporting dial mounted upon said housing for rotationrelative to the same about a vertical axis coinciding with said verticalaxis of said housing and located above said upright support column so asto be accessible from all sides; stitch forming mechanism mounted uponsaid housing for forming stitches in work material supported on saiddial; and means connecting said dial and said stitch forming mechanismto said main shaft to rotate said dial about said vertical axis relativeto said housing and to drive said stitch forming means in movementsynchronized with the relative rotary movement between said dial andsaid housing when said main shaft is driven by said drive shaft throughsaid pulleys and said belt.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 543,795 7/ 1895Arnold 112-26 X 809,855 1/1906 Starr et al 11227 X 1,970,994 8/1934 DeSpain 11225 1,975,715 10/1934 De Spain 112-25 2,560,435 7/ 1951 Grandnom11225 FOREIGN PATENTS 931,210 8/ 1955 Germany.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS I HICKEY, Examiner.

1. A DIAL LOOPER SEWING MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN UPRIGHTSUPPORT COLUMN HAVING A VERTICAL AXIS; A MECHANISM HOUSING; BEARINGMEANS SUPPORTING SAID HOUSING ON THE TOP END OF SAID COLUMN FOR ROTATIONRELATIVE TO SAID COLUMN ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS COINCIDING WITH SAIDVERTICAL AXIS OF SAID COLUMN; A DRIVE SHAFT MOUNTED IN SAID COLUMN FORROTATION ABOUT SAID VERTICAL AXIS OF SAID COLUMN AND HAVING AN UPPER ENDLOCATED IN THE REGION OF THE TOP END OF SAID COLUMN; A MAIN SHAFTMOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR ROTATION ABOUT SAID VERTICAL AXIS AND HAVINGA LOWER END LOCATED IN THE REGION OF THE LOWER END OF SAID HOUSING ANDREGISTERING WITH SAID UPPER END OF SAID DRIVE SHAFT; CLUTCH MEANS FORCOUPLING SAID LOWER END OF SAID MAIN SHAFT WITH SAID UPPER END OF SAIDDRIVE SHAFT FOR ROTATION TOGETHER; A WORK MATERIAL SUPPORTING DIALMOUNTED UPON SAID HOUSING FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO THE SAME ABOUT AVERTICAL AXIS COINCIDING WITH SAID VERTICAL AXIS OF SAID HOUSING ANDLOCATED ABOVE SAID UPRIGHT SUPPORT COLUMN SO AS TO BE ACCESSIBLE FROMALL SIDES; STITCH FORMING MECHANISM MOUNTED UPON SAID HOUSING FORFORMING STITCHES IN WORK MATERIAL SUPPORTED ON SAID DIAL; AND MEANSCONNECTING SAID DIAL AND SAID STITCH FORMING MECHANISM TO SAID MAINSHAFT TO ROTATE SAID DIAL ABOUT SAID VERTICAL AXIS RELATIVE TO SAIDHOUSING AND TO DRIVE SAID STITCH FORMING MEANS IN MOVEMENT SYNCHRONIZEDWITH THE RELATIVE ROTARY MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID DIAL AND SAID HOUSINGWHEN SAID MAIN SHAFT IS DRIVEN BY SAID DRIVE SHAFT THROUGH SAID CLUTCHMEANS.